I think it’s absolutely INSANE how incredible all of the graphic novels coming out recently are. I mean are we living in the golden era of mainstream graphic novels? I think so. It seems every time I turn around I see a new one that I’m dying to read, and this coming from a self-proclaimed BOOKS-ONLY kind of reader. I mean, I barely listen to audio books, and I’ve never really had time for graphic novels, because you don’t get enough bang for your buck word-wise, and I’m a story girl more than an illustration gal.
But DAMN can I just say how much I have been eating my words lately about graphic novels?!?!
Soooooooooooooo many favorite authors of mine have started releasing graphic novels, and I just cannot ignore them anymore. I’ve even got a graphic novel shelf started in my massive home library.
And the graphic novel series to rule them all has to be THE QUEEN OF STORIES herself VE Schwab’s The Steel Prince series. You guys probably remember that Volume One blew me away with the detailed art and mind-blowing prequel story that I didn’t even know I needed in my life. I was so obssessed with it that I was literally counting down the days until I could finally get Volume II in my hands, and I have to tell you… It did NOT disappoint.
Night of Knives centers around Prince Maxim’s quest to earn the respect of an important port town, Verose. To do so he’ll have to survive a series of challenges known as the Night of Knives, something no one else has ever walked away from. And of course, we know he lives because well, this is prequel. And see, something I love about a good prequel is that even knowing how it ends… You know Maxim isn’t going to die… The stakes remain high. It’s pretty difficult to make the stakes feel real when you’re writing a prequel, since stakes are naturally going to be lower when you’re dealing with a known character from a later work.
But Schwab handles it masterfully, and the story complete caught me up within seconds and gripped me until the very end. The artwork is every bit as lush and virbrant as the first graphic novel, and if anything it just got better.
If you haven’t already picked up these graphic novels, you should run to your nearest bookseller immediately. They are every bit as gritty and fantastical as the Darker Shades of Magic series, only with the additional glory of breath-taking illustrations. It’s no woner The Steel Prince Volume I made this year’s Goodreads Choice Awards. I challenge you to find a better fantasy graphic novel series.
Let me know what you thought in the comments!
